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Topic Review (Newest First)

04-08-2015 02:22 PM

sadiesworld

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colie CVT

Spondylosis basically is just calcified deposits around the vertebrae. It happens with age. Kenai didn't really have it noticeable until she was older lol.

The joint supplements really helped her. I actually put her on one of the joint foods. Fish oil is helpful for its antiinflammatory properties. When she would be really sore we would have some pain meds for her. Kenai was sensitive to NSAIDs, so we had to be careful. If you can get to a physiotherapist, acupuncture, cold laser, hydrotherapy and certain exercises can be helpful. Hills are useful for building muscle around the hip. Swimming is really good for joints.

I eventually had one of her hips replaced, but there are other surgeries that could be done and still be helpful. She was 8 years old when she had that done. The joint supplements and doing some physiotherapy, getting exercises and stretches to help her will really make a difference. It really is a lot of help. My golden has some degenerative changes in his elbows, and from getting some exercises from the physiotherapist I work with, keeping him at a slightly underweight size and very active, he is completely sound and doing great. ^^

Thank you for the thorough explanation! I'll be praying and hoping for the best for your Golden!

I definitely think Sadies issue is orthopedic related (loss of muscle behind her right hip/toe dragging). She has gotten better since resuming her hip/joint supplements + Salmon Oil.
I guess weight management with good diet and exercise is what I'll try for now. She doesn't seem to be in pain.
Thank you for your advice!!

04-06-2015 12:56 AM

Colie CVT

Spondylosis basically is just calcified deposits around the vertebrae. It happens with age. Kenai didn't really have it noticeable until she was older lol.

The joint supplements really helped her. I actually put her on one of the joint foods. Fish oil is helpful for its antiinflammatory properties. When she would be really sore we would have some pain meds for her. Kenai was sensitive to NSAIDs, so we had to be careful. If you can get to a physiotherapist, acupuncture, cold laser, hydrotherapy and certain exercises can be helpful. Hills are useful for building muscle around the hip. Swimming is really good for joints.

I eventually had one of her hips replaced, but there are other surgeries that could be done and still be helpful. She was 8 years old when she had that done. The joint supplements and doing some physiotherapy, getting exercises and stretches to help her will really make a difference. It really is a lot of help. My golden has some degenerative changes in his elbows, and from getting some exercises from the physiotherapist I work with, keeping him at a slightly underweight size and very active, he is completely sound and doing great. ^^

04-05-2015 09:33 PM

sadiesworld

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colie CVT

If you haven't gotten hip films on her, get them. The video you showed of her walking, she is really stiff and straight legged in the back. My first dog had HD and one of the things that she always did on walks was scuff her back nails. It got worse the older she got as she was more arthritic and she had a decent amount of spondylosis in her back, but the HD was the first thing wrong with her.

With a young dog, especially with her muscle getting less on the one side, it likely says that she isn't using that leg as much as the other, so you are seeing the results of her favoring it. I would go in and have x-rays of her hips done. Dogs who have wobblers, back issues or DM will have CP deficits. If when you turn her foot over, she turns it back fairly quickly, you aren't likely looking at something neurologic. With goldens, I certainly would be looking at those hips. It is super common in them.

The joint supplements helping also makes me think it is more of an HD thing and less of a DM thing. You can't do anything for DM. There's no treatment. They will just get progressively worse. I haven't seen joint supplements help either with a disk problem in dogs. They tend to help more if you have issues with elbows, hips or knees.

I would hope whomever you took her to really examined all the joints in her back leg and put them through full range, looking for signs of pain or how her gait potentially changed after having manipulated them. A good thorough exam would look at all those things.

I am not familiar with spondylosis? Any signs or symptoms that dogs show?

04-05-2015 09:29 PM

sadiesworld

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colie CVT

If you haven't gotten hip films on her, get them. The video you showed of her walking, she is really stiff and straight legged in the back. My first dog had HD and one of the things that she always did on walks was scuff her back nails. It got worse the older she got as she was more arthritic and she had a decent amount of spondylosis in her back, but the HD was the first thing wrong with her.

With a young dog, especially with her muscle getting less on the one side, it likely says that she isn't using that leg as much as the other, so you are seeing the results of her favoring it. I would go in and have x-rays of her hips done. Dogs who have wobblers, back issues or DM will have CP deficits. If when you turn her foot over, she turns it back fairly quickly, you aren't likely looking at something neurologic. With goldens, I certainly would be looking at those hips. It is super common in them.

The joint supplements helping also makes me think it is more of an HD thing and less of a DM thing. You can't do anything for DM. There's no treatment. They will just get progressively worse. I haven't seen joint supplements help either with a disk problem in dogs. They tend to help more if you have issues with elbows, hips or knees.

I would hope whomever you took her to really examined all the joints in her back leg and put them through full range, looking for signs of pain or how her gait potentially changed after having manipulated them. A good thorough exam would look at all those things.

Thank you so much for your in depth answer!
I do plan on getting her X-rayed soon!!! And, I will update with the results. Personally, I think she does have HD.
In the meantime, is there anything that helped your dog when dealing with HD?
I've been taking Sadie on walks giving her hip and joint supplement and she is on a healthy diet. She hasn't shown any signs of pain (she runs, jumps, and plays) but I know that dogs hide their pain sometimes.

04-05-2015 06:33 PM

Colie CVT

If you haven't gotten hip films on her, get them. The video you showed of her walking, she is really stiff and straight legged in the back. My first dog had HD and one of the things that she always did on walks was scuff her back nails. It got worse the older she got as she was more arthritic and she had a decent amount of spondylosis in her back, but the HD was the first thing wrong with her.

With a young dog, especially with her muscle getting less on the one side, it likely says that she isn't using that leg as much as the other, so you are seeing the results of her favoring it. I would go in and have x-rays of her hips done. Dogs who have wobblers, back issues or DM will have CP deficits. If when you turn her foot over, she turns it back fairly quickly, you aren't likely looking at something neurologic. With goldens, I certainly would be looking at those hips. It is super common in them.

The joint supplements helping also makes me think it is more of an HD thing and less of a DM thing. You can't do anything for DM. There's no treatment. They will just get progressively worse. I haven't seen joint supplements help either with a disk problem in dogs. They tend to help more if you have issues with elbows, hips or knees.

I would hope whomever you took her to really examined all the joints in her back leg and put them through full range, looking for signs of pain or how her gait potentially changed after having manipulated them. A good thorough exam would look at all those things.

04-05-2015 12:46 AM

sadiesworld

Degenerative Myelopathy? Hip Dysplasia?

Here is the best pic I could get. This is the left paw and it's the same on her right side.
EDIT: she just got her nails filed about two weeks ago and she needs it again! Attachment 286481

04-05-2015 12:20 AM

sadiesworld

Here is an update on sadie!

Since a few days ago I've resumed giving sadie her hip and joint supplement and her scuffs on our walks have calmed down (was 10x now it's a 1-2x a walk!)
Though, tonight I noticed both her two center nails on her front paws are very uneven. Could this be alarming? I know if the back nails are uneven that would be.
Do your pups have uneven nails on the front paws?

04-02-2015 06:47 PM

sadiesworld

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntergreen

op...have you tried glucosamine with msm. i just started Resources joint support plus for my airedale. 5 days later i am seeing improvement. he is a month away from 10 y/o. fortunately the warm weather is here and hopefully you have a place for swimming which will build up some muscle. start with xrays, and then if needed to rule out a spine issue. keep in mind, i am not vet or a vet tech.

I do give her glucosamine! She improved within days of taking it. I have not giving it to here for about a week because she's on antibiotics. I am not sure if all of it would give her a bellyache?

04-01-2015 11:57 PM

huntergreen

op...have you tried glucosamine with msm. i just started Resources joint support plus for my airedale. 5 days later i am seeing improvement. he is a month away from 10 y/o. fortunately the warm weather is here and hopefully you have a place for swimming which will build up some muscle. start with xrays, and then if needed to rule out a spine issue. keep in mind, i am not vet or a vet tech.

04-01-2015 09:55 PM

Chip18

Keep us updated glad to help.

Regardless of whatever the issue is you might want to keep in mind these if mobility continues to be an issue:

This one is.. uh crap! Rocky is an OSD GSD 116lbs and the large is to big for him??? I can't use the back half at all because the attachment straps are to short???

But I did "make" the front half work and the handle is great for helping him when needed.